(a) “Project area” includes:

(i) Areas in which there is a significant amount of buildings or improvements which, by reason of dilapidation, deterioration, age, obsolescence, inadequate provision for ventilation, light, air, sanitation or open spaces, high density of population and overcrowding or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes, or any combination of such factors, are conducive to ill health, transmission of disease, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency or crime and are detrimental to the public health, safety, morals or welfare;

(ii) Areas in which are located a building or buildings that are of important value for purposes of historical preservation, as designated by the Department of Archives and History;

(iii) Areas which by reason of a significant amount of defective or inadequate street layout, faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility or usefulness, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, deterioration of site improvements, diversity of ownership, tax delinquency, defective or unusual conditions of title, improper subdivision or obsolete platting or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire or other causes, or any combination of such factors, substantially impair or arrest the sound growth of the community, retard the provision of housing accommodations or constitute an economic or social liability and are a menace to the public health, safety, morals or welfare in their present condition and use;

(iv) Areas in which the construction, renovation, repair or rehabilitation of property for residential, commercial or other uses is in the public interest; or

(v) A project for which a certificate of public convenience and necessity has been obtained by the municipality pursuant to the Regional Economic Development Act.

(b) A “redevelopment project” may include any work or undertaking by a municipality:

(i) To acquire project areas or portions thereof, including lands, structures or improvements the acquisition of which is necessary or incidental to the proper clearance, development or redevelopment of such areas or to the prevention of the spread or recurrence of slum conditions or conditions of blight;

(ii) To clear any project areas by demolition or removal of existing buildings, structures, streets, utilities or other improvements thereon and to install, construct or reconstruct streets, utilities, bulkheads, boat docks and site improvements essential to the preparation of sites for uses in accordance with the redevelopment plan and public improvements to encourage private redevelopment in accordance with the redevelopment plan; or

(iii) To sell or lease property acquired by a municipality as part of a redevelopment project for not less than its fair value for uses in accordance with such redevelopment plan to retain property or public improvements for public use in accordance with the redevelopment plan.

“Redevelopment project” may also include the preparation of a redevelopment plan, the planning, survey and other work incident to a redevelopment project and the preparation of all plans and arrangements for carrying out a redevelopment project, relocation of businesses and families required under applicable law, and upon a determination, by resolution of the governing body of the municipality in which such land is located, that the acquisition and development of additional real property not within a project area is essential to the proper clearance or redevelopment of a project area or a necessary part of the general slum clearance program of the municipality, the acquisition, planning, preparation for development or disposal of such land shall constitute a redevelopment project.

(c) “Redevelopment plan” means a plan for the acquisition, clearance, reconstruction, rehabilitation or future use of a redevelopment project area which shall be sufficiently complete:

(i) To indicate its relationship to definite local objectives as to appropriate land uses and improved traffic, public transportation, public utilities, recreational, residential, commercial and community facilities and other public improvements; and

(ii) To indicate proposed land uses, waterfront uses, if any, and building requirements in the area.

A redevelopment plan may include interlocal cooperation agreements between a municipality and a county whereby both agree to pledge revenues payable to them to fund the debt of service of any indebtedness incurred pursuant to this chapter.

(d) “Governing body” means the governing body of any municipality or the board of supervisors of any county.

(e) “Developer” means any person, firm, corporation, partnership or other entity which enters into an agreement with a municipality whereby the developer agrees to construct, operate and maintain or procure the construction, operation and maintenance of buildings or other facilities or improvements upon land or waterfront being a part of a redevelopment project.

(f) “Municipality” means any city or town incorporated under the laws of the State of Mississippi or any county.

(g) “Clerk” means the municipal clerk or chancery clerk, as the case may be.